diff --git a/boa/src/vm/mod.rs b/boa/src/vm/mod.rs
index 670fdb1795..4bee56fef1 100644
--- a/boa/src/vm/mod.rs
+++ b/boa/src/vm/mod.rs
@@ -459,8 +459,9 @@ impl Context {
                     let exists = self.global_bindings_mut().contains_key(&key);
 
                     if !exists && (self.strict() || self.vm.frame().code.strict) {
-                        return self
-                            .throw_reference_error(format!("binding already exists: {key}"));
+                        return self.throw_reference_error(format!(
+                            "assignment to undeclared variable {key}"
+                        ));
                     }
 
                     let success = crate::object::internal_methods::global::global_set_no_receiver(